Thermal exchange engine

ABSTRACT

A method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a thermal energy conduction surface and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers which increase or decrease in volume as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface.

FIELD

There is described a method of operating prior art thermal exchange engine configurations.

BACKGROUND

The method will be described with reference to a screw compressor, a scroll compressor and a sliding vane pump, each of which is a known prior art device for moving or compressing various materials. An example with reference to a screw compressor can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,276 (Becher). An example of a prior art scroll compressor can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,594 (Ni et al). An example of a prior art sliding vane pump can be found in U.S. Publication 2011/0116958 (Pekrul).

SUMMARY

There is provided a method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a vessel with a thermal energy conduction surface for selective thermal energy conduction into or from the vessel and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers, each working chamber having a continuous cycle wherein a volume of each working chamber increases or decreases as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a dosed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface. The pressure change inside the at least one working chamber and resulting movement of the rotating elements is enhanced by a phase change and concurrent volumetric change of the phase change fluid.

The above described method will now be described. with reference to rotating elements that include a plurality of fitted interacting scrolls, a plurality of fitted interacting variable pitch screw rotors, and a rotor having a plurality of sliding partitions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1, labelled as PRIOR ART, is an end elevation view of a sliding vane pump.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the sliding van pump of FIG. 2, modified to become a thermal exchange engine in accordance with the teachings of the method.

FIG. 3, labelled as PRIOR ART, is an end elevation view of a scroll compressor.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the scroll compressor of FIG. 3, modified to become a thermal exchange engine in accordance with the teachings of the method.

FIG. 5, labelled as PRIOR ART, is an end elevation view of a screw compressor.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of the screw compressor of FIG. 1, modified to become a thermal exchange engine in accordance with the teachings of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Description of Prior Art:

The Prior Art will first be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a prior art sliding vane pump 30 having an offset rotor 32 with a plurality of sliding vane partitions 34. This image having been taken from U.S. Publication 2011/0116958 (Pekrul). Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a prior art scroll compressor 20 having fitted interacting scrolls 22 and 24. This image having been taken from U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,594 (Ni et al). Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a prior art screw compressor 10 having fitted interacting variable pitch screw rotors 12 and 14. This image having been taken from U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,276 (Becher). Screw compressor 10, scroll compressor 20 and sliding vane pump 30 are well known devices for moving or compressing various materials. These prior art structures have been chosen for use with the method that will hereinafter be described because they each have chambers 40 that move and change in volume, which is essential to the method.

The method of operating a thermal exchange engine will now he described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

Structure:

Referring to FIG. 2, prior art sliding vane pump 30 illustrated in FIG. 1, is converted into a thermal exchange engine, by placing rotating components (rotor 32 with a plurality of sliding vane partitions 34) into a containment vessel 50, having a thermal transfer interface 52 to encourage the conduction of thermal energy into and out of vessel. Thermal transfer being effected at thermal transfer interface 52. Heat or cold is transferred into each chamber 40 as it passes thermal transfer interface 52.

Referring to FIG. 4, prior art scroll compressor 20 illustrated in FIG. 3, is converted into a thermal exchange engine, by placing rotating components (fitted interacting scrolls 22 and 24) into a containment vessel 50, having a thermal transfer interface 52 to encourage the conduction of thermal energy into and out of vessel. Hear or cold is transferred into each chamber 40 as it passes thermal transfer interface 52.

Referring to FIG. 6, prior art screw compressor 10 illustrated in FIG. 5, is converted into a thermal exchange engine, by placing rotating components (fitted interacting variable pitch screw rotors 12 and 14) into a containment vessel 50 having a thermal transfer interface 52 to encourage the conduction of thermal energy into and out of vessel. Heat or cold is transferred into each chamber 40 as it passes thermal transfer interface 52.

It is to be noted that with each version of thermal exchange engine, vessel 50 is divided into a plurality of chambers 40. Each chamber 40 has a closed perimeter and an increasing and or decreasing volume during movement. Each chamber 40 is movable and travels until it is adjacent to thermal transfer interface 52 where thermal energy conduction is possible into or from the said chamber 40.

Method of Operation:

The cycle of the thermal exchange engine endeavors to change the internal pressure thermally and leverage this change by using a phase change from a liquid to a gas for the duration of the volume change within each chamber. The type of liquid and gas, as well as the pressure of the gas installed are prescribed for the anticipated temperature range. During rotation a portion of each chamber 40 will contain a prescribed gas or vapor and the balance of the volume of each chamber 40 will contain a prescribed liquid.

By way of example, the liquid can be water which undergoes a phase change to steam when heated and conversely the gas is steam which undergoes a phase change to water when cooled. The steam engine and the steam turbine enjoy their higher efficiency rate mainly due to the ratio that water expands at when boiled. The process has three separate steps where steam is produced and then transferred to the engine, producing the work desired. Without the luxury of the rapid thermal release of fuel as in an internal combustion engine, the thermal exchange engine transfers the thermal energy into the working chambers, during the volume change of the chamber, accumulating the pressure change that is leveraged by the phase change of a liquid in a scalable, reversible continuous and clean cycle.

Prior to initiating operation water 60 is placed in each of chambers 40. Thermal energy conduction is permitted into and or rejected from vessel 50 through thermal transfer interface 52. This thermally increases and or decreases the pressure inside chamber 40 adjacent to thermal transfer interface 52. The cumulative changes in pressure causes movement of each chamber 40 and its movable elements for the duration of the increasing or decreasing volume change. Concurrent to the increase or decrease of temperature and pressure from thermal energy conduction through thermal transfer interface 52, the pressure change inside each chamber 40 is leveraged with a phase change of the prescribed liquid (in this case water 60) into steam 62 contained each chamber 40 for the duration of the said change in the volume, temperature and pressure of each chamber 40.

In summary, a typical cycle starts with the conduction of heat into a chamber 40 adjacent to thermal transfer interface 52. As the contents of chamber 40 are heated the liquid (water 60) is boiled undergoing a phase change from liquid to gas (steam 62) and the gas is expands. The expansion of the gas (steam 62) increases internal pressure within chamber 40 and advances chamber 40 to a larger volume. The rising pressure in chamber 40 will continue to advance the rotor while thermal energy is accumulating and the volume in chamber 40 is increasing, distributing the pressure change and torque production for the duration of the volume change. Conversely, when thermal energy is rejected the declining pressure will also produce torque, potentially creating a closed cycle with two torque producing functions.

It is to be noted that vessel 50 operates on a closed cycle with no additional liquid (or gas) being introduced into or withdrawn from vessel 50. The liquid (water 60) turns to gas (steam 62) during heating and the gas (steam 62) turns to liquid (water 60) during cooling. In each chamber 40, some liquid (water 60) and some gas (steam 62) is present. However, the relative proportion of liquid (water 60) to gas (steam 62) in any one chamber 40 will depend upon Where that particular chamber 40 is in the closed cycle.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there he one and only one of the elements.

The scope of the claims should not he limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A method of operating a thermal exchange engine, comprising: providing a thermal exchange engine, comprising: a vessel having a thermal energy conduction surface for selective thermal energy conduction into or from the vessel; rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers, each working chamber having a continuous cycle wherein a volume of each working chamber increases or decreases as the rotating elements move; placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel; applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface, the pressure change inside the at least one working chamber and resulting movement of the rotating elements being enhanced by a phase change and concurrent volumetric change of the phase change fluid.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rotating elements are a plurality of fitted interacting scrolls.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the rotating elements are a plurality of fitted interacting variable pitch screw rotors.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the rotating elements comprise a rotor having a plurality of sliding partitions. 